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CCTV installed to catch ‘misuse of Class A drugs’ in Leeds United boardroom

Former managing director David Haigh interviewed by police

Thu, May 8, 2014, 23:05

James Riach

David Haigh: interviewed by West Yorkshire Police over claims that thousands of pounds in club money were fraudulently used to pay for cameras at Elland Road. Photograph: Rob Munro/Getty Images

David Haigh, the former managing director of Leeds United, has claimed that cameras were installed in the boardroom at Elland Road because he received information that class-A drugs were allegedly being taken on the premises.

Haigh, who resigned from the club last month following the protracted takeover by Italian businessman Massimo Cellino, released a statement yesterday, shortly after being interviewed by West Yorkshire Police over claims that thousands of pounds in club money were fraudulently used to pay for cameras at the stadium.

This was a claim that Cellino made following his takeover. However, Haigh claimed the surveillance equipment was “properly paid for by the club” and that it was installed because of alleged “recent misuse of class-A drugs”.

A statement released on Haigh’s behalf, said: “David has today given a full statement to police officers investigating complaints . . . by the new majority shareholders of Leeds United FC that surveillance devices were found at various locations, including the boardroom, at Elland Road.

“David was fully aware of the installation of these devices which were quite properly paid for by the club. They were put in place following reports between the end of January and early March this year alleging the recent misuse of Class A drugs in and around the boardroom.

“It was, and remains, David’s view that not to have taken action to seek to provide evidence against the alleged perpetrators would have been in breach of his duty . . . ”

Haigh played a key role in introducing Cellino, the Cagliari owner, to Leeds and assisting the takeover by his company, Eleonora Sport. The former managing director said he had “no alternative” but to resign from the club after the Italian’s buyout of more than £30m.

Haigh’s consortium, Sport Capital, has issued a winding-up petition against Leeds for an unpaid loan of around £1m.

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